ADPC and TCA Abu Dhabi reveal new design for Zayed Port cruise terminal at SeatradeMe 2014 in Barcelona
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCAAbu Dhabi) today [Tuesday, 16 September] unveiled the design of what will become the next big landmark for cruise tourism in the Arabian Gulf region: Zayed Port's new cruise terminal building.
The announcement was made at the Seatrade Med 2014 in Barcelona, Spain, one of Europe's key cruise events, which runs until 18 September and is expected to attract more than 4,000 high profile industry professionals from over 40 countries.
Traditional Arabic ornaments, colors, and shapes combined with modern architectural elements define the new building's distinctive style which celebrates the UAE's cultural heritage and pays tribute to its long maritime history.
A particular eye-catcher is the building's roof design which is a lattice-work, taking the UAE's national tree - the Ghaf as inspiration. Wooden beams inside the building take inspiration from the UAE's traditional dhow sailing vessels.
Covering 8,000 sq m, the new building will include all key passenger facilities, as well as a mezzanine level with souvenir shops, restaurants, office facilities and waiting areas for cruise staff. It will feature tourist information services and passport border control counters to ensure that the customs process is smooth and timely.
Ground clearance work for the new terminal, which will be capable of handling three cruise vessels simultaneously, has already begun with a completion timetable anticipated at 2016.
Earlier this year, the UAE announced a new multiple entry visa which will make tourist travel between the UAE and neighbouring countries significantly easier. The new multi-entry visa had been on cruise lines 'wish-list' for some time as it will help the logistics when planning itineraries around the Gulf region.
"ADPC and its partners TCA Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman established 'Cruise Arabia' at the end of 2013, as an initiative which promotes the Gulf region as an attractive tourist destination and brings the partners together to combine forces to make the cruising experience for tourists and cruise staff as comfortable as possible.
"Our investment in a larger higher quality cruise terminal building recognises the fact that Abu Dhabi now features on a growing number of itineraries. This makes us very proud and keen to ensure that this important industry is fully catered for and encouraged," says Capt.Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO ADPC.
"Abu Dhabi's cruise tourism has enormous potential and the development of tourism in the emirate is one of the core pillars of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, a plan to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil and gas revenue", he added.
The building's concept is the result of an international design competition and with ongoing input from a range of industry stakeholders.
"It is a statement of just how serious Abu Dhabi is about cruise tourism," said Sultan Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director Tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi. "For our part we are stepping up promotion of this particular industry sector with the imminent launch of a dedicated cruise tourism section on our visitabudhabi.ae online destination resource and the creation of highly differentiated shore excursions which lift the value of the Arabian Gulf cruise proposition with Abu Dhabi as both a home port and port-of-call."
In addition to state-of-the-art cruise facilities and comprehensive infrastructure, ADPC recently introduced a loyalty programme for cruise vessels calling at Zayed Port. The programme includes special home porting conditions and further incentives, making the stay for cruise liners at Zayed Port even more attractive.
Alongside Saadiyat Island, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi - the world's largest indoor theme park - and other headline attractions on Yas Island as well as a wide range of desert tours, Abu Dhabi's shore excursions for cruise passengers offer unique cultural sights, such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Emirates Palace, the UNESCO World Heritage sites in the emirate's heritage heartland of Al Ain and, in the near future, the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi in the Saadiyat Cultural District.
Abu Dhabi's cruise passenger arrivals have increased five-fold since the sector began in the emirate in 2007 with anticipated arrivals this season reaching 200,000 passengers from 95 vessel calls.
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About the Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal
Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) and Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority are working together to develop Abu Dhabi Cruise Terminal at Zayed Port into a world class cruise destination and to attract cruise lines and passengers from all over the world.
In 2013/2014 Zayed Port welcomed 75 Cruise Vessel calls with 189,000 passengers. In 2014/15 Zayed Port expects to welcome 94 vessels and 230,000 passengers reflecting an increase of 22% year on year.
ADPC is the master developer of ports and industrial zones in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the development of tourism in the Emirate is one of the core pillars of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030, a plan to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil and gas revenue.
About ADPC
ADPC manages nine commercial, logistics, community and leisure ports, including its flagship state-of-the-art, deep-water Khalifa Port. ADPC is also developing Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad), located adjacent to Khalifa Port, Kizad serves a range of logistics and manufacturing investors, and will grow into one of the world's largest industrial zones.
The company's AED 24.2 billion (USD 6.5billion) flagship Khalifa Port and Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad) has been designed to be flexible to reflect market needs.
Kizad was launched to market in 2010, and the whole of Khalifa Port was inaugurated on 12/12/12 by UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The port's semi-automated container terminal was launched on 1 September, 2012 and is now handling all of Abu Dhabi's container traffic, after its transfer from Zayed Port, the historic port in the city centre.
Phase One of Khalifa Port has a capacity of 2.5 million TEUs, plus 12 million tons of general cargo. Further phases of development will occur as market demand requires. With all phases complete, Khalifa Port will be able to handle 15 million TEUs and 35 million tons of general cargo per year.
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For more information, please contact:
Akram Kanso
International Media Relations Consultant | Corporate Communication
PO Box 54477 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Telephone +971 (0)2 695 2982
Mobile +971 (0)50 4260365
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© Press Release 2014
